Philippines to buy 12 South Korean fighter jets

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Air Force on Thursday expressed enthusiasm for the 12 South Korean-made supersonic fighter jets that the PAF will acquire, saying it will boost the country’s external defense.

“(These aircraft) will allow us to protect our territories from intruders and their commissioning in Philippines service will greatly boosts our external defense capabilities,”  PAF spokesman Colonel Miguerl Ernesto Okol told reporters.

On Wednesday, the Department of National Defense said negotiations with Korean Aerospace Industries were approved last December, and the contract may be completed by the end of February.

At least P18 billion has been allotted by the government for the acquisition of the fighter jets.

“This is good news and we at the PAF is very excited at this development considering our preponderance for internal defense for the past 11 years,” Okol said.